The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-31
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
TIE COMMITTEES REPORT
On tho Administration-The sIugwuinp Con.
tingont Tries to Whitewnsh the Presi.
dent, but ut tho Same timo Mildly
OHers Very Tame Cennure,


dent, but ut tho Same timo Mildly
Oners Very Tame CenHure.
NEw Yonx, March 3O.-The Nationa
Civil Service Reform League met to-day
A year ago the Executive Committee o
the National Civil Service Reform League
appointed committee 10 gather trust
worthy information regarding the enforce
meDt Of the civil service rules. Tha,
committee reports at length, and among
other things says: -
ut has not adhered inhexibly to a uni.
form policy. and In many branches OF the
service, and especially iu the State OF In.
diana and Maryland, It's conduct has great.
ly disheartened many friends OF reform.
In other parts OF the country, as in the
city Of New York, and In New England,
It's chief appointments have been vener.
ally 30 excellent as to command public re.
stpect and confidence. Indeed, the strong
hold OF the relorm upon the public mind
is shown by nothing more plainly than BY
the fact that popular opinion is most iav.
orable to the administration wherever the
administration hos shown itself mos.
faithful 10 reform.
On the other hand tho returns OF the
late election show that where patronage
was mott largely used 10 promote party
ends the loa1esot the administration party
have been largest. This fact is especially
illustrated in the Stats OF Indiana, where
the result cannot be attributed to Demo.
cratic disgust with tho reform policy OF
the administration. Ex-senator McDau.
aid, who Ia a strong opponent of reform,
said just before the election, "Our State js
thoroughly satisfied so far as as federal
patronage is concerned" Judge Lewis
Jordan said, "Why should there be any
dissatisfaction in Indiana when all the
federal offices In the State save few post.
otllcea, have been chsnged?" In the State
OF which this could bo truly said the vote
OF the administration patty has greatly
declined. Two OF the six Congressional
!liatricts held by that party wers lost, and
in the remainder the majorities we're
greatly reduced. II is, however, an inter.
eating and significant lac. that in the Con.
gressional district whers the loes was
greatest the Democfatic candidate WAS an
open opponent Of reform aud had thor.
oughly organized by patronage the Office
holders in his district. 1t is obvious that
whatever msy have been the reason for
abandoning the reform policy in Indiana,
the abandonment has heen oi no bensfi;
to the party Of the administration, while
elsewhere, as in Mr.. VILLAS district in
Kentucky, although the opposition to re.
form prevented his denomination, hia na.
jority in 1883 OF 1886 fell to msjori.y Of
only l46, for the auti-reiorm candidate,
and in tho district OF North Carolina
whtre Mr.. Co1's fidelity to reform pre-
vented his denomination, his party was
defeated at the polls.
MUCH TO be DESIRED.
Tried by the standard OF shzolute iidel.
ity to the reform ao il is understood By this
League, it is not to be denied inst this
administration hss left much to bo desired.
But upon the showing Of this report which
has neither concealed nor extenua.ed the
most i6juriouB facts, if our estimate OF
the situation be just, the administration
under enormous disadvantages and per-
plexitiee has accomplished nluc: for the
reform Of the civil Bervic8. Whatever
just disappointment may have been felt,
1t is uudeniable that tho old "spo:ls eys.
tenn" has been aesiously shaken. Not.
withstanding evident partisan pressure,
the administration has practically demon.
strated that clean partiean swcpp of the
civil service 10 not demanded by the intel
ligsnt OF tho country and is not necessary
for honest, efficient and satisfactory gov.
ernment. This alone ia an immeasurable
benefit to reform. Never beioro since the
partisan prostitution OF the civil acrvice
began, has tn. middle OF the term of an
administration found the non-poli.icsl
places in that service distributed between
the two parties. Satisfactory officers in
various positions have eegved cut thoir
terms, and aome hsye been ,eappoin,Cd
when their terms expired, fact hitherto
alm0at unknown alter q party change in
the I.ationRl executive. !he fra2nlerlRry
results OF reform which had been occurred
by previous administrations have been
fully maintained while tho aggregate oi
such results has baen remarkably en-.
largel.
uSOD hi.SGLIs sUI lS!FSkN,
These good results, indeed, have moi
been uniform and universal. But tho fact
that the chief ceneurs OF thu sdministra.
ton by partisan opponents lies in the allie.
cation that it has violated sound princ;.
plea oi reform, and that the equally vigor.
GUS censure from partisan adhererts il
based upon the theory that its fidelity to
reform hiss diaheartenSd md disorsanized
its own party, is the unconecious homage
OF hCstil;ty 10 its supposed purpose.
Even if the apprehension OF some earliest
friends of reform should be justified and
tho further progress OF the administration
by eilecling before the cioss OF its term {,
complete partisan charge in the service,
should totally diGappou. the an!icipations
which have been entertained OF COT.
stantiy greater and moru consistent fidelity
10 the principleg oi reform, its failure
would not Glect tie importance md
precl:catility Of these principlts or
the value and Significance OF tho
progress which reform in tho civil
service has already schieved. Tho
apprehension oil which ve speak showG
TINT the administration stsnda at tho part.
ing Of the ways. Much has been done OF
which as irienda OF reform We havs frank.
ly expressed our une quivoCal disapprovsi,
and much also which has justified tho
high expectations which were based upon
the declarations Of tho President before
bis inauguration. The future sctiou Of
tho administration upon this subject,
therefore, will be watched with profound
interest rs determining the fnnl public
judgmen: OF its relation to Civil Seryic,
Reform.
The report is signed by tho following
members oil tho committee: George vii.
liam Curtis, Carl Schuiz, Wayne Mac
Vesgh, Chariss j. BonHpsrte, Charles K.
Goldman, Charles Clsll,n Alien, William
Potts.
National Buiidrr,' Convention.
Chicago, Mnrch 3O.-The National AS
goca,iDn Of Buill!erR met again this morn
iDg. John $. S.cphenp, Of Philadelphia,
the chairman CT tho Constitutional Com.